AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX vs Intel Core i9-14901KE Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX and Intel Core i9-14901KE occupy fundamentally different positions in the database. The AMD part, a 16-core mobile processor from the 8000 series built on Zen 4 (Dragon Range), sits at the 95th percentile among all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 81,103. Its nearest rivals include the Intel Core i9-14900KS (scoring 81,127, essentially tied at 0% delta) and the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 (scoring 80,762, about 0.4% behind). The Intel Core i9-14901KE, a desktop Raptor Lake Refresh part, holds only the 50th percentile and has no recorded benchmark scores or average score in the database. The data shows a clear hierarchy: the Ryzen 9 8940HX delivers substantial measured performance across multiple workloads, while the Core i9-14901KE lacks any recorded measurements to compare against.

For users selecting between these two, the decision rests on workload and platform. The Ryzen 9 8940HX demonstrates strong multi-threaded capability with its 16 cores and 32 threads, scoring 32,521 in Cinebench R23 multi-core and 5,355 in Cinebench R15 multi-core. It also shows competitive single-thread performance, with 1,917 in Cinebench R23 single-core and 292 in Cinebench R15 single-core. The Intel part, with 8 cores and 16 threads, has no benchmark entries, meaning the database cannot confirm its performance profile. The Ryzen processor is the only option with verified results, making it the data-backed choice for any workload where measured performance matters.

The platform differences reinforce this split. The Ryzen 9 8940HX uses AMD Socket FL1, targets the mobile segment, and supports DDR5 memory with 83.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Core i9-14901KE uses Intel Socket 1700, targets the desktop segment, and supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, though its memory bandwidth is not recorded. The Intel part does offer ECC memory support, which the AMD chip lacks, and its integrated UHD Graphics 770 may serve specific display or compute needs. However, without benchmark data, the Intel processor's actual capabilities remain unverified in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has more cores and threads?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE has 8 cores and 16 threads. This gives the AMD part twice the thread count for parallel workloads.

Q: How do their clock speeds compare?

A: The Intel Core i9-14901KE has a higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and a higher boost clock of 5.80 GHz, compared to the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX's base clock of 2.40 GHz and boost clock of 5.30 GHz. The Intel part's boost clock is 0.50 GHz higher.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has a TDP of 55 watts, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE has a TDP of 125 watts. The Intel processor draws more than twice the thermal design power of the AMD chip.

Q: Do both processors support ECC memory?

A: No. The Intel Core i9-14901KE supports ECC memory, while the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX does not. This may matter for workstation or server environments requiring error-correcting memory.

Q: Which processor has a larger L3 cache?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE has 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part offers nearly twice the L3 capacity.

Q: What are the integrated graphics solutions?

A: The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX includes Radeon 610M graphics, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE includes UHD Graphics 770. Both are integrated solutions, though the database does not record comparative graphics performance.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two processors is substantial. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX uses the Zen 4 architecture, codenamed Dragon Range, manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC. The Intel Core i9-14901KE uses the Raptor Lake architecture, specifically Raptor Lake-R from the Raptor Lake Refresh generation, built on a 10 nm process by Intel. The process node difference alone, 5 nm versus 10 nm, explains much of the efficiency gap, as the AMD chip delivers a 55-watt TDP while the Intel part requires 125 watts.

The transistor and die size data further illustrate the design divergence. The AMD processor contains 13,140 million transistors across a die size of 2x 71 mm², while the Intel processor's transistor count is not recorded, but its die size is 257 mm². The AMD chip uses a chiplet design with two dies, whereas the Intel part appears to use a monolithic die. The cache hierarchies also differ: the AMD chip has 64 KB of L1 cache per core, 1 MB of L2 cache per core, and 64 MB of L3 cache, while the Intel chip has 80 KB of L1 cache per core, 2 MB of L2 cache per core, and 36 MB of shared L3 cache. The AMD part's larger L3 cache supports its higher thread count, while the Intel part's larger per-core L1 and L2 caches may benefit single-threaded latency.

Memory support marks another architectural distinction. The Ryzen 9 8940HX supports only DDR5 with dual-channel memory and a recorded bandwidth of 83.2 GB/s. The Core i9-14901KE supports both DDR4 and DDR5, also dual-channel, though its memory bandwidth is not recorded. The AMD chip does not support ECC memory, while the Intel chip does. PCIe connectivity also differs: the AMD processor provides Gen 5 with 28 lanes (CPU only), while the Intel processor provides Gen 5 with 16 lanes (CPU only). This gives the AMD chip more PCIe lanes for expansion or GPU connectivity.

Specification Differences

The specification table reveals clear contrasts in nearly every core attribute. The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX offers 16 cores and 32 threads, while the Intel Core i9-14901KE offers 8 cores and 16 threads, a 2x difference in both. Base clocks differ by 1.40 GHz (2.40 GHz for AMD, 3.80 GHz for Intel), and boost clocks differ by 0.50 GHz (5.30 GHz for AMD, 5.80 GHz for Intel). The Intel part's higher clocks reflect its desktop orientation and higher power envelope.

TDP values diverge sharply: 55 watts for the AMD chip versus 125 watts for the Intel chip, a 70-watt gap. Sockets are incompatible: AMD Socket FL1 versus Intel Socket 1700. The process nodes differ (5 nm TSMC versus 10 nm Intel), and the foundries differ (TSMC versus Intel). The AMD chip uses a 2x 71 mm² die design with 13,140 million transistors, while the Intel chip uses a 257 mm² die with no recorded transistor count. Cache configurations differ in capacity and layout: the AMD chip has 64 MB of L3, while the Intel chip has 36 MB of shared L3.

Memory support shows the AMD chip limited to DDR5, while the Intel chip supports DDR4 and DDR5. ECC memory is available only on the Intel part. PCIe lanes differ, with 28 lanes on the AMD chip versus 16 lanes on the Intel chip. Integrated graphics differ as well: Radeon 610M on the AMD side, UHD Graphics 770 on the Intel side. Market segments also differ (mobile for AMD, desktop for Intel), as do release dates: the AMD chip was released on 2025-04-22, while the Intel chip was released on 2024-06-30. Both have unlocked multipliers, and both are listed as Active in production status.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries for these two processors, and the Intel Core i9-14901KE has no recorded benchmark scores at all. However, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX's individual benchmark results provide a detailed performance profile that can be interpreted against the Intel part's absence of data.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX delivers its strongest results in multi-threaded workloads. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, it scores 32,521, and in Cinebench R15 multi-core, it scores 5,355. PassMark multi-thread testing shows a score of 49,731. These results place the chip in the 95th percentile of all CPUs, with an average benchmark score of 81,103. Its nearest rival, the Intel Core i9-14900KS, scores 81,127, a delta of 0%, indicating the Ryzen chip performs essentially on par with one of Intel's flagship desktop parts.

Single-thread results for the AMD chip are also strong. Cinebench R23 single-core yields 1,917, and Cinebench R15 single-core yields 292. PassMark single-thread testing shows 3,874. These scores, combined with a boost clock of 5.30 GHz, indicate competitive per-core performance despite the lower base clock of 2.40 GHz.

Specialized workloads show further strengths. PassMark data compression scores 650,984, data encryption scores 39,318, extended instructions score 47,802, floating point math scores 113,921, integer math scores 189,221, physics scores 2,104, random string sorting scores 75,381, and find prime numbers scores 251. These results span a range of computational patterns, from compression and encryption to math and sorting, all recorded in the database.

The Intel Core i9-14901KE, by contrast, has no benchmark entries, no average score, and no percentile ranking beyond the 50th percentile, which is derived from its specification position rather than measured performance. The database cannot verify any of its performance claims. The head-to-head comparison is therefore one-sided: the AMD processor has a full suite of recorded results, while the Intel processor has none.

Where Each One Wins

Based strictly on recorded data, the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins every measurable category. Its multi-core scores (32,521 in Cinebench R23, 5,355 in Cinebench R15, 49,731 in PassMark multi-thread) demonstrate strong parallel throughput, which is expected given its 16 cores and 32 threads. Its single-core scores (1,917 in Cinebench R23, 292 in Cinebench R15, 3,874 in PassMark single-thread) show that the higher boost clock of the Intel part does not translate into verified superiority. The AMD chip's 95th percentile ranking and average score of 81,103 place it among top-tier CPUs, with nearest rivals including the Intel Core i9-14900KS and AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395.

The Intel Core i9-14901KE offers several specification-level advantages that may win in specific deployment scenarios, even without benchmark confirmation. Its higher base clock of 3.80 GHz and boost clock of 5.80 GHz suggest potential for low-latency, lightly threaded tasks, though the database provides no measured evidence. Its ECC memory support makes it suitable for reliability-focused desktop workloads where data integrity is critical. Its support for both DDR4 and DDR5 memory provides flexibility in system builds, and its UHD Graphics 770 integrated solution may serve certain display output needs. The desktop market segment and Intel Socket 1700 compatibility indicate a different platform ecosystem compared to the AMD chip's mobile Socket FL1.

The AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX wins on efficiency, with a 55-watt TDP versus the Intel part's 125 watts, and on PCIe expansion, with 28 lanes versus 16 lanes. It also wins on L3 cache capacity, with 64 MB versus 36 MB. For workloads that leverage high core counts, large cache, or PCIe bandwidth, the data supports the AMD processor. For workloads that require ECC memory or prefer a desktop platform with dual memory type support, the Intel processor may be considered, but its lack of recorded benchmarks means the database cannot confirm its performance. The recorded data consistently favors the AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX across all measured metrics.